1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve? NOTE: Do not assume that the stasis of the play is the same as the stasis of the video version that you are required to see. Only discuss the play in this and answers to the following questions.
Due to the fact that the play is a series of interviews following the events in Crown Heights and not necessarily in an exact sequential order. I believe that the stasis as best described in the play are during interviews such as the one with the anonymous Lubavitcher woman that depict past events before the accident. The interview talks about relations between the blacks and Jews in the community. Prior to the accident, members of the Crown Heights community were trusting enough to ask strangers into their home. Another interview that can depict the stasis is the interview with George C. Wolfe. His interview tells about how many Blacks in the community are used to a close knit community. This can add details to how the Black community was passionate and united about the injustice of the accident. I believe that Smith included these interviews to provide background to the demographics of Crown Heights. 2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the MIrror and how is it broken?
Once again I am choosing to use the same strategy as I used when idetifying the stasis. The intrusion as best described inn the content of the play is during the interviews of eye witnesses of the incident., As the young man discusses how the ambulance arrived for the priest before the children were even removed from the street and how the angry rioting began. 3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer?
The unique factor is the murder of Gavin Cato. This insights angry rioting and increased tension between the Jewish and Black community of Crown Heights as both sides rally against one another to define what is just. The prompts this series of interviews that discusses the community's feelings surround the event and their personal experience as they deal with loss and the dangers that come with mass aggressive riots. 4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is whether justice will be served for the murder of Gavin Cato as well as what is the community's thoughts and feelings concerning the event. 5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
The narrator of the play faces the obstacle of society. She faces the issue of having to properly capture the feelings and thoughts of each community member and accurately convey them to an audience. 6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
One of the theatrical moments of the show is the description of the accident. This provides the most information about how the rioting began and how the accident was mishandled. Another theatrical moment is the interview with Gavin Cato's father. Along with it being extremely emotional and gripping it provides the most information about the anger, sadness, and loss that he and the community (on a lesser level because of course they are not the boy's father) about the death of young Gavin.
Due to the fact that the play is a series of interviews following the events in Crown Heights and not necessarily in an exact sequential order. I believe that the stasis as best described in the play are during interviews such as the one with the anonymous Lubavitcher woman that depict past events before the accident. The interview talks about relations between the blacks and Jews in the community. Prior to the accident, members of the Crown Heights community were trusting enough to ask strangers into their home. Another interview that can depict the stasis is the interview with George C. Wolfe. His interview tells about how many Blacks in the community are used to a close knit community. This can add details to how the Black community was passionate and united about the injustice of the accident. I believe that Smith included these interviews to provide background to the demographics of Crown Heights.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Fires in the MIrror and how is it broken?
Once again I am choosing to use the same strategy as I used when idetifying the stasis. The intrusion as best described inn the content of the play is during the interviews of eye witnesses of the incident., As the young man discusses how the ambulance arrived for the priest before the children were even removed from the street and how the angry rioting began.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: the unique factor may have something to do with you? How does the title figure in your answer?
The unique factor is the murder of Gavin Cato. This insights angry rioting and increased tension between the Jewish and Black community of Crown Heights as both sides rally against one another to define what is just. The prompts this series of interviews that discusses the community's feelings surround the event and their personal experience as they deal with loss and the dangers that come with mass aggressive riots.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic question is whether justice will be served for the murder of Gavin Cato as well as what is the community's thoughts and feelings concerning the event.
5. Use the narrator of the work to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing the narrator.
The narrator of the play faces the obstacle of society. She faces the issue of having to properly capture the feelings and thoughts of each community member and accurately convey them to an audience.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Fires in the Mirror.
One of the theatrical moments of the show is the description of the accident. This provides the most information about how the rioting began and how the accident was mishandled. Another theatrical moment is the interview with Gavin Cato's father. Along with it being extremely emotional and gripping it provides the most information about the anger, sadness, and loss that he and the community (on a lesser level because of course they are not the boy's father) about the death of young Gavin.